In Addition to seeing private therapy clients, kim Orr offers training to students and clients who have been working with her, and who wish to become contemplative practice yoga® therapists.
Here is an overview of the training programs.
Yoga Therapy Initial Training
Begins with the basics: how to teach poses and pranayama in therapeutically oriented classes focussing on core release and on the principles of the anatomy of therapeutic yoga.
This yoga training is unique in that our classes are small. Our trainings are modeled on the kind of tutorials students receive at Oxford or Cambridge Universities — there are never more than 6 students in any given yoga training. You receive personal attention and mentoring, creating a profound understanding of the principles of the practice and of their application in classes and in private teaching.
Kim offers this training in intensive immersion modules for the most effective learning.
This is a program for those who are serious about their yoga therapy training with the goal of teaching therapeutically oriented yoga classes as preparation for becoming yoga therapists.
The application process includes an interview in order to help determine whether this program is a good match for each candidate.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Full attendance for each immersion module or at each weekend module
Cultivation of a daily practice
What to Expect
A typical daily schedule is as follows:
Morning session
Lunch break
Afternoon/early evening session
Dinner break
What to Bring:
Comfortable clothing appropriate to the season
Where to Stay:
Special rates have been negotiated at several nearby hotels, including some with kitchens and refrigerators.
There also may be home-stays available with local hosts. Please inquire.
Upon registration you will be given information about the hotels.
What you will learn
How to teach safely and effectively
How to teach students with varying needs and abilities
How to teach poses for the lower and upper spine, standing and balance poses, seated poses, twists, and pranayama
How to demonstrate and use effective language for instruction
How to observe and respond to student needs, including giving gentle and beneficial alignments and adjustments
How to sequence poses and create lesson plans appropriate to different levels of classes and student needs.
Basic human anatomy and physiology
Application of human anatomy to a therapeutic yoga practice
Physical and non-physical benefits of the poses
Common physical limitations and their contra-indications for practice
Philosophical principles underlying the practice
Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct
What you will be expected to demonstrated competency in
Teaching and demonstrating poses
Familiarity with names of poses in Sanskrit and English
Familiarity with Benefits and contra-indications for poses
Ability to observe and respond to individual student needs
Ability to use both verbal and physical alignments and adjustments
Ability to use language to demonstrate and convey instructions effectively
Familiarity with and application of underlying philosophical principles of practice
Familiarity and application of physical and anatomical principles of practice
Code of Ethics for professional conduct
Understanding and application of principles of sequencing and lesson planning
Ability to adapt poses and practices to individual student needs
*Successful completion of the course and demonstrated competency are the requirements for eligibility for certification as a Contemplative Practice Yoga® teacher.
Training Materials and Reading
You will receive training materials consisting of worksheets and reference materials at each training. These are designed to support you in your ongoing studies and practicum in between training sessions. You will also be expected to take written notes.
training dates and tuition
Cost for Initial Training is $4500 per module. This includes tuition, materials fee, contact and non-contact hour training.
Dates for the Yoga Teacher training for 2025:
Contact us for information
Our class sizes are limited to ensure you get the most effective and fulfilling training possible.
YOGA THERAPY Advanced TRAINING
Continues with specified training in therapeutic protocols for working with private clients in one-to-one sessions tailored to their needs.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE YOGA THERAPY TRAINING® is advanced training and the initial teacher training described above is the prerequisite for this advanced training.
Contemplative Practice Yoga® Therapy training is unique in several ways. First of all, our classes are small, there are never more than six people in any training. Second, our yoga therapy is based in a deep understanding of physiology of movement of muscles and bones. We do not teach or practice “stretching or core strengthening” as derived from physical therapy or other yogas based in physical therapy.
Each student receives personal attention and mentoring. This creates profound understanding of anatomy, the principles of the therapy, and their application in private yoga therapy sessions.
This is a program individuals who are serious about developing a private client yoga therapy practice in addition to teaching therapeutically oriented Contemplative Practice Yoga® classes.
PREREQUISITES FOR THIS TRAINING
Certified Contemplative Practice Yoga® Teacher (see training as described above in Initial Training)
An interview is required for admission into the program
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Level 1: Treating Pain and Basic Therapeutic Protocols for general well-being, common disorders, and common injuries.
Level 2: Therapeutic Protocols for more severely debilitative disorders and potentially terminal diseases.
Level 3: Specialized studies for specific clientele.
In addition, each module includes:
Philosophical and practical principles underlying the therapeutic protocols.
Applied Anatomy
Specific therapeutic practices including asana, pranayama, meditation, and relaxation.
General and applied anatomy and physiology.
Tools for understanding and communicating with medical professionals.
Basic principles of the therapeutic relationship including limits and scope of Yoga Therapy and personal limitations.
Effective intake, evaluation, and observation methods.
Ethical principles for Health Care and ethical principles specific to Yoga Therapy.
Methods and practice for self-examination in order to assess your knowledge, scope of training, and experience for application to professional practice.
Basic record keeping and business practices.
How to work as part of a therapeutic team with other health professionals.
WHAT YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN:
Ability to create therapeutic protocols and and communicate effectively about their application.
Ability to take a history, observe, evaluate, and set appropriate therapeutic protocols.
Ability to determine which aspects of client’s condition can be effectively addressed by Yoga Therapy.
Ability to assess effectiveness of therapy and address new or changing conditions, providing either ongoing therapy or ending therapeutic modules as appropriate.
DATES OF TRAINING:
Module I — at a mutually convenient time for those in training
CURRICULUM
LEVELS OF COMPETENCY
Level 1 Foundational
Level 2 Intermediate
Level 3 Advanced/Specialized
Each level of training consists of contact hours, home study, and supervised internships between/after each intensive training session.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
PREREQUISITES
Certification as a Contemplative Practice Yoga® teacher. Teaching experience as Contemplative Practice Yoga® teacher. (see description of Initial Yoga Therapy Training above.
APPLICATION
Candidates for the program must complete the application form and submit it in advance of registration.
INTERVIEW
Personal interview is required as part of the application process.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A TYPICAL DAILY SCHEDULE IS AS FOLLOWS
Morning session
Lunch break
Afternoon and Evening sessions with clinical supervised practice
Dinner break
WHAT TO BRING
Comfortable clothing appropriate to the season
WHERE TO STAY
Special rates have been negotiated at several nearby hotels, including some with kitchens and refrigerators.
There may also be home-stays available with local hosts. Please inquire.
Upon registration you will be given information about the hotels.
TRAINING MATERIALS AND READING
You will receive training materials consisting of worksheets and reference materials at each training. These include materials covering all of the major topics in the training. These are designed to support you in your ongoing studies and practicum in between training sessions.
TUITION AND DATES
Cost for Yoga Therapy Training is $4700 per module which includes tuition, materials fee, and non-contact hour training.
Those who have completed Contemplative Practice Yoga® teacher training are eligible for this training, the dates of which are arranged for the group’s convenience.